Pearson and Save the Children partner to help children in conflict areas

March 11, 2015, 12:21
, 12:21

Save the Children and Pearson announce £1.5 million partnership – to deliver education for children affected by conflict

Pearson and Save the Children have launched an ‘Every Child Learning’ partnership, to help out-of-school children caught in the Syrian refugee crisis access quality education.

Providing education for children in conflict and emergency settings presents many unique challenges. As the conflict in Syria enters its fifth year, more than 2 million displaced children are no longer in school and even more vulnerable to the risks of child labour, early marriage and recruitment into militia groups.

Over the course of the three year partnership, Pearson has committed £1 million to work with Save the Children to identify and develop solutions for delivering education in emergencies, drawing on the expertise and assets of both organisations. The ambition is that these solutions can then be adapted, scaled and used to deliver quality education in other emergency situations. Types of solutions that could be explored include:

Teacher training and support designed for those working in conflict-affected settings;

Development of mobile education solutions which are unrestricted by borders, and enable continuity of learning by overcoming barriers such as limited classroom space and high-student teacher-ratios;

The development of a condensed and modified curriculum that can be delivered without shipping textbooks and extensive teaching materials; and,

Solutions to grading tests for a qualification when the logistics of a national marking system are not in place and children lack formal school records

To help meet the immediate need £500,000 has also been donated to support a programme in Jordan, where there are more than 300,000 displaced children. The funds will support two education centres in Amman, designed and run by Save the Children, which will create a safe environment for 1,400 children and their parents so they can access support and structured learning activities.

John Fallon, Chief Executive of Pearson, said:

“The world's youngest citizens are often the most vulnerable to conflict. Places of learning should always be safe havens where everyone is able to learn and develop the skills they will need in their lives.

We’re delighted to be partnering with Save the Children to help ensure young people continue to have the opportunity to learn and progress in the aftermath of crises.”

Justin Forsyth, Chief Executive of Save the Children, said:

“The crisis in Syria has had a devastating impact on children’s lives, depriving millions of young people an education for almost four years now. The world cannot stand by and allow this to become a lost generation of Syrian children, set back decades by a brutal war.

Save the Children is proud to be launching this ambitious partnership with Pearson. If we want to make the biggest difference for children, we must harness the expertise of partners to ensure the world’s most vulnerable children are given the chance to learn in safe and secure environments. ‘Every Child Learning’ will improve the delivery of education in emergencies and war zones across the world and give children the chance to fulfil their potential.”

“Save the Children's programmes in Amman are designed to ensure that children have the best possible start in life. The Syrian conflict has caused them a huge amount of psychological and emotional trauma over the past four years, so it’s crucial that we provide a safe place where they can learn and enjoy being children.”

Justine Greening MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development, said:

“Four years of conflict have left Syria’s children scarred, homeless and at risk of becoming a lost generation without a future.

That’s why education is at the heart of Britain’s package of essential support to thousands of Syrian families, whose children will be called on to rebuild their shattered country.

The Every Child Learning initiative from Pearson and Save the Children is a very significant and welcome contribution to these efforts.”